Marriage licenses in New York are handled locally, and the details that matter — the fee, the wait, how long the license lasts — are set by state law. This page collects the statewide rules from New York’s own official sources, then links every county guide we have verified so far.
The statewide rules
- Who issues the license: Town or city clerk of any town or city in New York State; in New York City, the City Clerk
- License fee (statewide): $40 (NYC $35)
- Waiting period: 24 hours after issuance before solemnization, unless waived by a court of record (DRL 13-b)
- License validity: 60 days (180 days for active-duty military)
- Minimum age: 18
- Residency / where to apply: No residency requirement stated in opened sources; apply in person to any town or city clerk
- Who can officiate: Judges, village mayors, marriage officers and clergy under Domestic Relations Law Art. 3 Sec. 11; officiants in NYC must register with the City Clerk; no officiant registration required elsewhere in the state
- Courthouse ceremonies: Clerks issue licenses; civil ceremonies are performed by judges, mayors and appointed marriage officers
New York counties in this directory
We have published 46 verified county guides for New York so far. License fees on the verified county pages currently run from $35 to $40. 11 of them publish a separate ceremony fee. Browse them all: Browse all New York county guides — and use the search on the homepage to jump straight to your county.
Source for the statewide rules: https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/DOM/13 (checked 2026-11-09). County figures are checked separately against each county’s own official page and carry their own verified dates. Always confirm with your county clerk before you go — this is not a government site.